1 Kings 21

1After these events, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

2Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard so I can make it a vegetable garden, since it lies close beside my house, and I will give you a better vineyard in its place; or if it pleases you, I will give you its value in silver."

3Naboth said to Ahab, "Yahweh forbid that I give you the inheritance of my fathers!"

4Ahab entered his house distressed and angry because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had declared, "I will not give you my fathers' inheritance." He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and ate no food.

5His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, "Why is your spirit so sad that you eat no bread?"

6He said to her, "I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and told him, 'Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you desire, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' He replied, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"

7Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now exercise kingship over Israel? Get up, eat bread, and let your heart be glad—I will give you Naboth the Jezreelite's vineyard."

8She wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city with Naboth.

9She wrote in the letters, saying, "Call a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the people."

10Set two sons of Belial before him, and have them testify against him: "You cursed God and the king." Then bring him out and stone him, that he die.

11The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, just as it was written in the letters she had sent to them.

12They called a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people.

13Two men, sons of Belial, came and sat before him. The men of Belial testified against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." Then they carried him outside the city and stoned him with stones, and he died.

14They sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth was stoned and died."

15When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab, "Arise, possess the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for silver, for Naboth is not alive—he is dead."

16When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he rose up to go down to Naboth the Jezreelite's vineyard to take possession of it.

17Yahweh's word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

18Get up, go down to meet Ahab, king of Israel who lives in Samaria. See, he is in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone down there to possess it.

19You shall speak to him, saying, "Thus says Yahweh: Have you slain and also dispossessed?" You shall speak to him, saying, "Thus says Yahweh: In the place where dogs licked Naboth's blood, dogs will lick your blood, even yours."

20Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in Yahweh's eyes."

21Behold, I am bringing disaster to you, and I will consume those after you, and I will cut off from Ahab whoever urinates against a wall, whoever is restrained or forsaken in Israel.

22I will make your house like Jeroboam son of Nebat's house and like Baasha son of Ahijah's house, for the provocation by which you provoked me to anger and made Israel sin.

23Yahweh also spoke concerning Jezebel, saying, "The dogs will eat Jezebel by the rampart of Jezreel."

24The dogs will eat whoever dies belonging to Ahab in the city, and the birds of the heavens will eat whoever dies in the field.

25Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of Yahweh, whom his wife Jezebel incited.

26He acted most detestably in pursuing idols, just as the Amorites did—those whom Yahweh drove out before the sons of Israel.

27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his flesh, fasted, lay in sackcloth, and walked gently.

28Yahweh's word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

29Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days, but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house.